John F. Gray

Writer. Always curious

Is a freelance writer, "storyteller" and content creator. Through his work, he strives to develop and create stories that connect and build communities.

John jumped into the start-up world in early 2009, bringing his experience in business development and sales to companies creating new software products. He was co-founder of Mentionmapp, a visual analytics company that was acquired by OverInteractive Media in October 2011.

Sharing and writing about business, social enterprise and technology, John communicates the purpose driven human experience. Great stories can make a difference. John’s focus is writing the best content for you.

Entrepreneurship is about going over, around, under or right through obstacles. It's not for the faint of heart. "It's not just the one who has the most money wins. It's how much are you giving? How much dignity are you giving? How much are you enabling others to gain?"

In a city where "game" is most often prefaced with the word "video," Vancouver's Giant Monster Games is going retro. They're rolling the dice on a Kickstarter campaign to bring Kingdom Bots to board game fans.

There's an illusion that health care in Canada is free. It's not. Just because there isn't a bill for every visit or every treatment doesn't mean it's a free service. Every single treatment, procedure or prescription drug doesn't come with guaranteed coverage. A visit to Connect Health does come with a bill. But maybe it's time we start putting a value on our good health.

It's an invasion. Don't panic. This one is all goodness. It's the foodies taking over the Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub based in Vancouver. Five social enterprises have been accepted to the program, and now have an opportunity to grow their resources, reach and success.

If being sick doesn't kill you, the medical bills might. Imagine getting better and being bankrupted for it. Facing the prospect of financially devastating medical bills is a reality many Americans know isn't going away. But a newly announced partnership between B.C. startup FundRazr and leading US provider of healthcare information Healthline.com may just save them from financial ruin.

Good leaders can deliver inspiration, but it's great leaders that facilitate mobilization. People become citizens, and citizens become leaders. The theme "make it yours" should resonate with the spirit of individual accountability. It's up to everyone in the audience (and beyond) to take those words of inspiration and turn them into action. Make a commitment to taking action and getting connected with your neighborhoods, communities, or the global village. Make a difference!

We're spoiled. Face it, when the days monumental decision is about which foamy coffee to order, which patio has the best WiFi, or choosing a playlist for a run around False Creek, we're really agonizing over a collection of serious first world problems. Building communities, and supporting the people directly takes boots on the ground, a willingness to get your hands dirty, a get-it-done attitude, and maybe a little voluntouring.

Food is so much more than what fills an empty stomach. It helps better connect people with their community. Amid Vancouver's culinary abundance, three organizations are working to engage disenfranchised groups to nourish people with a renewed sense of purpose through food.

There's something to be said about spending a lifetime scratching that entrepreneurial itch and some may call you nuts along the way. In British Columbia, SFU's new RADIUS Ventures is a promising business incubator sure to nurture our next generation of do-gooders with bright solutions to everyday problems.

Something's always more appreciated when it's lost. Wallet, glasses, keys, and phone seem more valuable when they're gone. Despite some inconvenience or concerns about identity theft, they're replaceable. There are some things a trip to the mall can't fix. Imagine losing something like your mobility.

Our cultural lore suggests that curiosity may claim the lives of a few cats. Moving from lore to a distinct possibility, we really should add poverty to that list. Connecting their theme "Stay Curious" the 2013 Projecting Change Film Festival, is pushing forward the conversation that can't be ignored. Closing the festival with a showing of Girl Rising, the vital importance of educating women around the world lit up the screen. Learning is about staying curious. Education is a key to curing poverty.

The Innovation Hub recently held the a conference featuring great speakers, panel conversations, and networking opportunities. The knowledge exchange was valuable, but it was shining the spotlight on the current cohort of companies calling the Hub home that proved to be the real highlight.

Once you get past the breathtaking natural scenery and vistas of Squamish, B.C., and the architectural beauty of the campus buildings, and get talking with the students and staff of Quest University you know you've stepped into a community that doesn't have the same resonance of a large research institution.

Talk is cheap, and Vancouver's Mark Brand exemplifies the social entrepreneur who's all about getting things done. Brand's business isn't about stuffing his personal bottom line. Over coffee at his diner, Save On Meats, he shared his vision and goal for being a leader and creating a social business model that's independently sustainable, while supporting the local community.

With support from Electronics Arts, the Directions Youth Services media room helps street youth find the voice many never realized was inside them. Co-ordinator Colin Ford and the staff teach music, art, audio recording, film-making, computer literacy, digital media skills and teamwork. They provide an opportunity for social inclusion and creative expression where it might not have existed before.

While women are really excited to be engaged, they're generally not very excited to plan the wedding. Early in Angel Pui's career as a wedding dress designer she got an intimate look at how overwhelming, stressful and confusing the planning process is for many prospective brides.

While volunteering and working with autistic children, Lisa Fraser noticed one of the key therapeutic devices of the day was, in her eyes, really ugly. The weighted vests was like slapping a label on kids and saying "Hey, look at me! I'm different." She believed that bringing a better design and even some style into these kids' lives, was an endeavour worth pursuing.

Three former game studio executives with 40+ years of experience could easily be basking in the console glory days of the past. Instead of opting for white sandy beaches and umbrella drinks, these former EA (Electronic Arts) colleagues have co-founded a company that adds rewards to mobile games as you play.

One Million Moms for Gun Control was created in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and helping them raise crucial funds is a Vancouver innovation. The word is spreading quickly, and not surprisingly social media playing a key role in raising awareness. Awareness is good, but funding is vital sustenance.

With Oprah Winfrey speaking in Vancouver on Jan. 24, B.C.-based Lunapads is donating 400 reusable menstrual products to girls in Africa. Using the #Pads4Oprah hashtag, they hope to get Oprah's attention about how providing feminine hygiene products help keep African girls in school.